Manicuring implement



May 6, 1952 A. R INEHART 2,595,704

MANICURING IMPLEMENT 4 Filed July 50, 1948 INVENTOR. 414 ENE/M27 Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a novel manicure implement and relates more particularly to an improved shield or masking arrangement and support for the fingers in order to facilitate the application of nail enamel.

When colored finger nail enamel is self-applied or is applied by a manicurist, care must be taken to prevent the enamel from traveling into the recess between the nail and the skin and in the event that the enamel'is carelessly applied, it must be removed and the operation started anew. Various maskin devices have been devised for preventing fiow of t'he enamel under the free edge of the nail but such devices are not particularly effective in preventing lateral flow and even if they partially prevent such fiow during application the step of removing the device from the nail with its fresh application of enamel generally causes the flow.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel arrangement comprising a block and a masking element supported thereby, whereby the finger is applied to the mask rather than vice versa, the finger being supported against movement during the application, and wherein the finger is so rotated relative to a novel mask or shield of special contour as to obtain the most favorable position for limiting flow of the enamel.

The structure of the present invention is such that a recess below the masking edge permits the nail to be moved to a position below the edge and then moved upwardly into firm engagement with such edge, the finger acting as a lever which has for a fulcrum the marginal rim of the block. While the hooked edge of the masking device is firmly disposed in the recess or crack between the nail and the fiesh, the enamel is applied and the finger then backed downwardly away from the edge without disturbing the freshly enamelled surface.

In one form the block is provided with an inclined upper surface, the masking member being disposed in spaced relation above such surface. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of this character wherein the block may be rotated upon its support to an adjusted fixed position, the position changing to the requirements of the hand and wrist as the successive nails are operated upon.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partially in section, of an embodiment of the present invention mounted on a supporting base.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the structure.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged broken top plan View thereof.

Fig. 5 is a broken section taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a similar section.

Fig. 7 is a broken section taken on line 1-7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a similar section.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation thereof.

The structure shown in Figs. 1 to 8 includes a supporting block l0 provided with inwardly turned masking members or shields H at each end thereof. The latter may be formed integrally with the block as shown in Fig. l; the entire assembly being cast or molded in one piece of suitable material such as a colored plastic. The masking members may, if desired, also be separately formed and be appropriately secured to the block.

On its lower surface a pin l2 projects downwardly, the pin being arranged to be received in an opening [3 in suitable base support M.

For the purpose of securing the block against rotative movement during work, such lower surface is formed with a plurality of radially disposed splines l5 leaving recesses I6 therebetween. The upper surface of the base adjacent opening i3 is formed with complementary recesses I1 which receive the splines.

When it is desired to rotate the block to a new position, it is only necessary to raise it slightly from the base, rotate it, and then drop the splines back into the recesses [1.

Each masking member II is generally hookshaped and is formed with an upper beveled surface 20 which is concavely curved when viewed from above, thus providing a curved, relatively sharp edge 2i which lies generally in th same plane as the upper surface of the block. The central section 22 of such upper surface is flush with edges 23 and on each side of such central section there is a recess 24, the central section forming a platform to support the finger.

Th manner of using the device is clearly shown in Figs. 4 ta 8. The finger 25 is first placed on the upper surface of the block, overlying a portion of edge 23 and central platform 22, the side opposite from that resting on platform 22 having been rotated downwardly as shown in Fig. 7. The finger is then rotated upwardly to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 8, wherein the crack 26 between the nail 21 and the fiesh 28 has received a section of curved edge 2!. While firmly holding the finger in this position with the edge residing in the crack the enamel is applied and the operation repeated on the opposite side of the nail. The central section of the nail may then be enamelled while the finger is resting on platform 22.

The method of rotating the finger while being supported on the block to properly position the crack or recess 26 relative to edge 2| of the shield is well shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In Fi 5 the finger when first applied to the block has been rotated in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown. It is then rotated in the opposite direction, thus causing the crack 26 to receive the edge. The main support for the finger when in this position is edge 23, the finger acting as a lever and the edge as a fulcrum. After the enamel has been applied and it becomes necessa'ry to back away from the edge without permitting the enamel to run, the finger is rotated in such counter-clockwise direction and the finger moved downwardly at the same time into the recess.

In Fig. 6 the finger is smaller than the one shown in Fig. 5 but the result is the same. The shield and block are thus equally effective for small and large fingers.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the block 32 has a diagonal lower surface 33 which may also be provided, if desired, with the pin and supporting means shown in Fig. 1. When supported on a horizontal surface th upper surface 34 is inclined and at the center of such surface the masking member 35 projects upwardly.

Extending laterally from opposite sides of the member are hook-shaped portions 36 which are formed with substantially the same contour as the shield in the first form of the invention.

While two forms or embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein for illustrative purposes, and the construction and arrangement incidental to specific applications thereof have been disclosed and discussed in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiments shown herein, but that extensive deviations from the illustratedforms or embodiments of the invention may be made withoutdeparting from the principles thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A manicure implement for masking the sides of a nail during the application of enamel thereto and comprising a block provided with hookshaped members extending upwardly from opposite ends of its upper surface, such upper surface having a recess below each such member and defined by opposed walls, each free inner edge portion of the member being bevelled and concavely curved and having a relatively sharp edge forming a mask, each of the opposed walls defining such recess forming a support for the finger, a support for the block having an opening therein and a pin carried at the lower end of the block which is positioned in the opening, the lower surface of the block and the upper surface of the support having radially disposed, complementary splines and recesses arranged to secure the block in an adjusted, fixed position.

2. A manicure implement forming a shield for the sides of a nail while being supported during application of nail enamel, such implement comprising a block provided with a masking shield at its upper end, a base for the block, and means comprising complementary, radial splines on the lower surface of the block and the upper surface of the base for supporting the block in an ad- .iusted, fixed position on the base, the shield comprising spaced, hook-like members extending above such upper end and whose free edge portions are bevelled and concavely curved inwardly, thus providing concavely curved, relatively sharp edges to which the sides of the nail are applied, the upper end of the block having recesses below the shield, and opposed walls defining such recesses which act as fulcrums for the finger acting as a lever to hold the nail firmly against the shield.

ALAN RINEHART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,982,589 Bergstrom Nov. 27. 1934 2,291,125 Wilkinson July 28, 1942 2,428,152 Goettel Sept. 30, 1947 

